Great Bear Rainforest

After almost two decades of conflict, collaboration and consensus that saw the Great Bear Rainforest go from 5% protection in the 1990s to 85% protection of its forested landbase in 2016, a final long-term agreement is now in place to safeguard the beautiful Great Bear Rainforest into the future.

Stretching along the mainland coast of British Columbia from the Discovery Islands to the magnificent Tongass rainforest of Alaska, the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest tracts of intact coastal temperate rainforests remaining in the world. The rainforest was threatened by industrial logging and mining in the 1990s. Habitat for bears, eagles, and salmon was being destroyed in the unceded traditional territories of many First Nations, as their leadership and governments had no say over decisions impacting their communities and their territories.

Greenpeace fought for two decades alongside its environmental and First Nations allies to help bring a set of conservation agreements to fruition. First announced by the Government of British Columbia in February 2006, the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements established two goals: 1. reach 70% protection of old-growth ecosystems, and 2. increase community well-being. By 2009 only 50% protection had been achieved. In 2016 the agreements have been fulfilled, setting aside 85% of the forested landbase – essentially an area the size of Vancouver Island – from old-growth logging. In addition to even more stringent, legal logging regulations for the remaining 15% and an expanded network of protected areas, First Nations governments have solidified their say over land use decisions in their traditional territories and increased revenue-sharing with the BC Government.

How Greenpeace worked to safeguard the Great Bear Rainforest

Exposed environmental problems: Exposed environmental problems: We cast an international spotlight on industrial projects that threatened the health of the rainforest.

Collaborated in solutions-based discussions: We were deeply involved in negotiations with our environmental partners, First Nations, the forestry industry and the B.C. government. Learn more about this global solution .

Engaged the marketplace: We communicated and worked with companies that bought wood and paper from the rainforest, urging them to use their purchasing power to influence logging practices. We encourage Forest Stewardship Council certification for logging companies.

Supported communities: We supported First Nations in their efforts to diversify their economies and increase their governance over their traditional territories as well as individual First Nations stewardship initiatives like the Heiltsuk Nation’s Qqs Projects Society.

How Greenpeace will continue to safeguard the Great Bear Rainforest

Monitoring: We will seek to monitor the implementation of the final conservation measures in Great Bear Rainforest Agreements of 2016

Engaging the marketplace: We will alert the marketplace on an annual basis on implementation of the final conservation measures

Supporting communities: We will continue to build on our relationships with First Nations communities, supporting them in their aspirations for self-determination and will ensure that promises made in 2016 by the BC Government and forestry industry are promises kept into the future.

The latest updates

Sometimes independent bodies mandated to monitor the government have the courage to tell the truth. Today is one of those days. The Auditor General of British Columbia released an audit of biodiversity in B.C. , essentially a report...

This past week marked the seventh anniversary of the announcement of the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements by First Nations, the BC Government, the logging industry and environmental organizations including Greenpeace.
The landmark...

Oral Statement given by Barbara Stowe to the Joint Review Panel on the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline.
Thursday, January 17th, afternoon, 2013.
When I was thinking about what I wanted to say here, the words of...

The following guest blog was written by Jess Housty, a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, which lies at the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. It is a powerful account of her experience in participating in the 3rd Annual Tar...

Today , under a beautiful blue sky on the steps of the British Columbia’s Legislature in Victoria, Greenpeace and its allies marked a major milestone in the Great Bear Rainforest campaign. Along with Jens Wieting of Sierra Club BC,...